Board: remove prohibited cargo containers or seek variance before home-occupation review

The Plattekill Planning Board told applicants for a Class 2 home-occupation permit at 755 Route 4455 that their application cannot proceed as submitted because of on-site storage containers that are not permitted by local code.

Planning staff pointed to a code-enforcement letter saying the presence of overseas-style cargo containers makes the current submission noncompliant and observed that the application "is hereby denied as written" until the conflict is resolved. Staff recommended revising the site map to show removal or proposing how the containers would be screened, or seeking a variance if removal is impractical.

Staff reviewed relevant sections of the town code, noting that outdoor display or storage associated with a home occupation is restricted, may not occur in the front yard and cannot be within 20 feet of an adjacent property line. Staff also advised that a special-use permit will require referral to county planning and that the project should be shared with NYS DOT because the property is accessed from a state highway.

The applicants said some trailers predated their purchase and asked about options; planning staff reiterated the options: remove the containers, apply to legalize them under a business use, or pursue a variance. The board advised the applicants to coordinate with the building inspector and code enforcement to determine next steps and agreed to a follow-up site visit and additional paperwork before final review.

The board flagged screening, revised plan submission and code compliance as required follow-ups before a public hearing on a special-use permit would proceed.